RED City Developments has responded at the highest level to Manchester City Council's attempt to shatter their stadium dreams.

Adam Thomas, managing director of the company set up to see Salford Reds' dreams of playing at an ultra-modern £35m stadium to fruition, has written to Manchester City Council leader, Councillor Richard Leese, pleading for support for the scheme.

He wrote: "The Salford Advertiser had picked up on rumours about Manchester's position with regard to the new stadium development, which I must confess we had also heard over the past 12 months.

"The rumours did concern us, as we could not understand why Manchester would be against the development particularly as it has over-riding benefits for Manchester as well as Salford.

"Some fuel for the fire was of course provided by Manchester lodging concerns which focussed on the retail element of the scheme. In some respects this was expected as it is part of the city council's role to defend the retail sector in Manchester City Centre. However, we deliberately proposed a development that would not harm the city centre."

Mr Thomas said that an independent report has concluded that Salford lacks retail units of the type proposed for the stadium complex.

He added: "We cannot build the stadium without the money generated by the retail scheme. There is no point telling someone they can buy the house if you then refuse them the mortgage to pay for it."

Mr Thomas also said Manchester could help the proposal avoid being called in for scrutiny by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister which would delay the building of the stadium and could spell disaster for the club.

He ends his letter pleading: "As our Siamese twin city, I ask you to stand full square behind Salford Council, if the planning authority are minded to approve the scheme, and support Salford's elected representatives in deciding the future of its own rugby league club."